The Crown Prosecution Service Wales said he had been in “a position of power and authority” in order to “prey on very young and vulnerable victims”, with North Wales Police apologising to his victims.

In 1994, Anglesea was awarded £375,000 in libel damages after media organisations ran stories about his links to abuse at children’s homes in north Wales.

Private Eye was among the publications sued by Anglesea.

Speaking after the verdicts were returned, its editor Ian Hislop said he had taken a “certain grim satisfaction” in justice having eventually been done, but confirmed the satirical magazine did not intend to revisit the libel case.